Taja Curry Hut199a Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DE 020 7375 0657A former public toilet (I kid you not) they now serve up wonderful curries and other Indian delights. A favourite lunchtime haunt of mine.

Oxo Tower BrasserieOxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, SE1 9020 7803 3888www.oxotower.co.ukStill one of my favourite bars from which to gaze over the London skyline. And the food’s not bad either.

Tas33 The Cut, London SE1 8LF020 7928 1444Excellent Turkish meze.

Meson don Felipe53 The Cut, London SE1 8LF020 7928 3237Simply the best genuine tapas bar in London. A bit pricey but not as much as a flight to Barcelona.